Italy Edges Israel 4-5 โin Thrilling โขWorld Cup Qualifier, Climbing to Secondโ in Group
BUDAPEST – Italy secured a dramatic 4-5โ victory against โIsrael in a โคWorld Cup qualifying match played in Budapest on Septemberโ 6th, propelling them โฃto โขsecond place โin their group.The Azzurri now stand on equal points with Israel, but with a gameโ in hand.
The match, held in Hungary โขdue to security concerns, was marked โby a rollercoaster of โemotionsโข for both teams. Italy initially struggled, conceding an own goal from Manuel Locatelli following a โcross from Biton, giving Israel an early lead. โMoiseโค Kean equalized with a precise finish after a Dimarco assist.
Israel regained the lead earlyโ in the โคsecond half through Dor Peretz,โ but Kean quickly responded, again assisted by โขGiacomo โRaspadori.โ Italy then surged ahead withโค goals from Matteo Politano, assistedโ by Raspadori, and Davide Frattesi, assisted by Raspadori – marking Raspadori’s third assistโข of the night.โฃ Though, Israel โfought backโ to level the score.
The winning goal arrived in the 91stโค minute from Sandro Tonali, sparking โjubilant celebrations.
Despite theโ victory, Italy coach Luciano Spalletti expressedโ concerns about his team’sโ performance. “There wasโข to die for today – they surprised us โa little, the leg was not very โbrilliant and in the second game thereโ is. We keep the victory, but we โขare crazy, we took absurd goals andโ we have to improve. We are too fragile, the boys โคknow it, but it’sโค my problem. At least we โฃreacted โฃto every slap and it isโ important: there has been a heart, there was a desire to react, but โit โฃcannot be granted โso much,” he stated.
Spalletti also noted an “embarrassing approach” โคand tactical difficulties, highlighting the association ofโข Israel’s team.โ The win places โItaly in a strong position to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, but significant improvements are needed,โข according to the coach. Italy will face Northโค Macedonia on โคSeptemberโค 9th.